Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple: A Must-See on Your Silk Road Adventure
The Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple (or Dafo Temple) was initially named the Mahavira Temple, but also known as the “Reclining Buddha Temple” because it houses Sakyamuni’s statue in Nirvana in a recumbent position. It is the largest reclining Buddha site in China.
Situated in the Giant Buddha Temple Lane, Democratic West Street, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province, it is a significant site of the historical Silk Road. Not only is the temple a symbol of the Golden Zhangye, but also a Buddhist art museum that unifies architecture, sculpture, murals, carving, scriptures, and cultural relics.
Fast Facts about Giant Buddha Temple (Dafo Temple)
- Location: Giant Buddha Temple Lane, Democratic West Street, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province
- Chinese name: 张掖大佛寺
- Entrance fee: 41 yuan
- Opening hours: 08: 30 – 17: 30 in winter; 8: 00 – 18: 00 in summer
- What to see: Courtyard design, imperial hall, blended Islamic and Chinese elements
- Time needed: 1- 2 hours
History of Dafo Temple: From Western Xia Dynasty to Modern Times
Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple is an ancient and magnificent Buddhist tabernacle, famed for its Buddha statue, long history and rich artistic connotations.
Origins in the Western Xia Dynasty
Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple originated in the first year of Yong’an during the reign of Emperor Chongzong of the Western Xia Dynasty (1098 AD). It was built by the Western Xia state preceptor Wei Mie after he discovered a jade reclining Buddha at the site of the former Jia Ye Rulai Temple.
Legend of Wei Mie and Founding of the Temple in 1098
The Great Buddha Hall of Zhangye is the core building of the Zhangye Great Buddha Temple. It was first built in 1098. Wei Mie, the state preceptor of the Western Xia Dynasty, had the Dharma name of Sineng. He was a member of the Tangut royal family, the Tuoba clan. In his early years, he studied Buddhism under the Western Xia preceptor Yan Dan.
One day, while meditating, Wei Mie heard music nearby. After digging about three feet into the ground, he discovered a reclining Buddha made of jade, covered with green tiles and golden bricks. Wei Mie then spent five years building the Giant Buddha Temple.
Ming and Qing Dynasty Restorations
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, Zhangye Dafo Temple went through several major renovations and expansions. In 1411, Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty renamed it “Baojue Temple.” In 1477, an earthquake in Zhangye damaged the reclining Buddha’s head, repairs and relic installation were thus organized. In 1678, Emperor Kangxi renamed it “Hongren Temple.” In 1745, the Giant Buddha Hall collapsed because of disrepair, and the reclining Buddha were greatly damaged. So, in 1747, the tabernacle abbot Si Zong and donator Bing Ren raised finances to rebuild the tabernacle and restore the reclining Buddha.
Modern Restoration and National Protection
In modern times, Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple has been highly valued and protected by the state. It was designated as a provincial key cultural relic protection unit in 1963 and upgraded to a national key cultural relic protection unit in 1996.
A largest-scale renovation was undertaken to comprehensively repair the cultural relics, murals, buildings, and grounds. The temple has also launched a project lately, employing 3D laser scanning and other technologies to create a “digital twin” of the buildings, sculptures, and murals. All these efforts has made the Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple a true precious attraction that shines brightly on the Silk Road trips.
Highlights of Giant Buddha Temple
The Reclining Buddha
The reclining Buddha of Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple lies on the lotus butsudan in the middle of the main hall. You will regret it if you haven’t seen such grand creation on your Silk Road travel. It is 34.5 meters long, 7.5 meters wide at the shoulders, 4 meters long for the ears, and 5.2 meters long for the feet. The face is gilded, the head is on a lotus platform, and it lies on its side with half-closed eyes and slightly open lips, looking peaceful.
Temple Layout
As a royal temple of the Western Xia Dynasty in the past, the layout of Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple is especially unique compared with other temples. It has a typical imperial architectural style.
The temple complex is arranged along the east-west axis, with nine buildings including the archway, bell tower, front and back gates, Buddha Hall, Guanyin Hall, Heavenly King Hall, Sutra Hall and earth pagoda. The side halls are symmetrically arranged. The entire complex has a unique shape, strict layout, prominent theme and distinct tone, reflecting the imperial “Nine Five Supreme” spirit.
Buddha Hall Designs and Murals
The Great Buddha Hall of the Dafo Temple is a two-story pavilion-style building with a double-eaved hip roof, standing 33 meters high. It has a rectangular floor plan, with a width of 9 bays and a depth of 7 bays, covering an area of approximately 1,770 square meters. On both sides of the Great Buddha Hall are the standing statues of Upasika and Upasaka respectively. At the back, there are statues of the ten disciples mourning. On the north and south sides, there are groups of 18 Arhats, each with a different posture and vividly lifelike. On the east and west walls inside the hall, there are huge murals, whose content is drawn from ancient stories.
Other Key Structures
- Sutra Pavilion: The Sutra Pavilion is located behind the main hall and is an important place for preserving Buddhist scriptures in the temple. It now houses various Buddhist treasures such as the “Great Prajnaparamita Sutra”.
- Amitabha Thousand Buddha Pagoda: The Amitabha Thousand Buddha Pagoda is one of the landmark buildings in the temple. The base of the pagoda is 23 meters long on each side, and the canopy is more than 4 meters in diameter.
- Theater Stage: The stage is built on the mountain gate passage, with exquisite shape and carved beams and painted rafters. On both sides are symmetrical viewing towers with a sloping roof divided into two floors. The walls of the upper floor are painted with elegant landscapes, and inscribed with couplets and poems.
How to Get to Zhangye Gaint Buddha Temple from City Center
- Bus: Take bus No. 1, 11 or 13 and get off at the Giant Buddha Temple stop. It will be a short walk from there.
- Walk: It is also accessible by foot within the city center.
- Taxi: A taxi ride from any parts of the city costs 10 to 20 yuan.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit is May to October. The climate is pleasant and the scenery is beautiful during this period.
Nearby Attractions
- Zhangye National Geopark: Also known as Zhangye Color Danxia Scenic Area. It is the most typical Danxia landform in the arid regions of northern China. It is the only area in China where Danxia landform and colorful hills are highly integrated.
- Mati Temple: A tourist area that integrates grotto art, Qilian Mountain scenery and Tibetan customs. There are more than 70 grottoes and niches in total, and it is a national key cultural relics.
